Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Letter: Middletown GOP to blame for poor fiscal policies

The following letter appears online today at the Asbury Park Press:




In his Oct. 21 letter, “Real solutions to problems put Middletown on right track,” Mayor Anthony Fiore admitted that Middletown government is derailed. I could not agree more.

True to form, he falsely blames years of excessive spending, unnecessary bonding, escalating taxation and debt, all cradled in Republican mismanagement, on the Middletown Democrats who somehow magically made elected Republicans spend our tax dollars. This is just more empty rhetoric to go with decades of empty promises.

After Fiore strong-armed $500,000 from library funds, took $350,000 for the second year in a row from sewerage authority fees and used $1.3 million in public education funds, his so-called fiscal discipline required a 12 percent tax increase to cover $45 million of a $62 million budget. This lack of incumbent Republican fiscal discipline has Middletown looking at a projected $2 million shortfall for 2012.

Ask Mayor Fiore if he has a real solution. Past Republican practice points at raising taxes. During his term, he has contributed 22 percent to a 40 percent increase in taxes over the last five years. Past practice also points at adding to our $70 million debt, which has increased 66 percent over the same five years.

Finally, at least $2.4 million of $4 million in “cuts” claimed by Mayor Fiore were onetime nonrecurring expenses that were never part of the 2011 budget.

Put a stop to more than 30 years of poor fiscal policy and borrowing. Please help our community get back on track. Vote for James Grenafege and Carol Fowler.

James Grenafege




Middletown Township Committee candidate

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

More made up numbers. Didn't he learn at the candidates debate? taxes did not rise by 12% this year. Grenafege and Fowler: The no credibility candidates.

MiddletownMike said...

Anon 5:49

Didn't you learn at the candidates debate that based on the recent reassessment Grenafege's taxes did go up 12%. Rich Morrill backed him up by also stating that his local tax bill increased by 12%.

Anonymous said...

I filed a successful tax appeal in 2010, for the 2010 - 2011 tax year I also saw an increase of 12%.

Can't Stand the Liars said...

Anon5:49a.m.

Distortion of the real life scenario.....manipulation of assessments and an increase in the certified municipal tax rate in Middletown increased property taxes by nearly 13.875 percent. The lies go on and the Republican liars figure. The bottom line...how much each property owner had to fork over to pay their tax bill not the fuzzy math of these integrity challenged TC members spouting fairy tales on that dais!

Go shoot your blow off mouth over on MMM....oh.forgot that suspect character author,your favorite pal,is in jail.

Anonymous said...

Nationally syndicated columnist.George F. Will stated "Divided government compels compromises that curb each party's excesses,especially both parties proclivities for excessive spending when unconstrained by an institution controlled by the other party".

How true! Clearly indicative what 31 years of Republican majority rule has done to Middletown.

The arrogance is unsurpassed. The ignorance is absurd . The buffoons continue to rant their nonsense and cast blame on others when there is no one to blame but the REPUBLICAN MAJORITY!!

EXCUSES,EXCUSES,EXCUSES, and no courage or willingness to accept responsibility for your actions. The majority of the characters in the sandbox were and still are Republicans....for the past 31 years!!1

EXPLAIN THAT,spineless ones.

Anonymous said...

My 2011 tax bill, municipal tax: $1,326.93
My 2012 bill, municipal+library: $1,260.87
That's a 4.5% decrease for me

Maybe Grenafege did some improvements to the house which caused it to be reassessed higher.

Oakhiller said...

Anon 5:49 Keep on living in denial.
Talking about credibility.....Steph Murray's job experience changes every time she opens her mouth.
Her statement, "we live in a great town, why do you people complain" is so ridiculous that I had to laugh.
Has she traveled out of Oak Hill?
The Republicans know how to distort and deceive, but eventually the lies catch up with them.
Right Cassandra?

MiddletownMike said...

Anon 12:00

That was the nature of the reassessment. For everyone that saw their taxes go up, someones tax es went down. As I stated before on a previous post, my taxes stayed the same.

Anonymous said...

No,the tax assessor played around with the assessments,thus that accounted for the increase in my tax bill and a hefty increase. NO IMPROVEMENTS ,just the usual figuring of those who can't tell the truth.

Anonymous said...

yes I was there. Grenafege and Morrill made that outlandish remark and then I saw Fiore hold up the Asbury Park Press and prove them wrong. They didn't utter a peep about it after that.

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:15 - it's called following the rules that the LWVs set - no yelling or carrying on as had occurred in other settings. The nos. in the APP came from a county source and they don't jive with any number given by the town or anyone else that has offered up a number - but the fact is true that overall, taxes went up, even the mayor attests to this - strangely Ms. Murry doesn't seem to know anyone (all repubs?) whose taxes increased, but then she is a writer, publisher,and devotee of fantasy.

Anonymous said...

What in hell does Fiore know about assessment,he;s got no qualifications.

Held up the Asbury Park Press....are you serious......held up the library trustees also.

Anonymous said...

One waves Money Magazine, another waves the APP- what will these sorry excuses for public servants do when their subscriptions run out?

Can't Stand the Liars said...

They are not public servants ,they are trough swilling politicians!